Truth vs Hype

In Sri Lanka, unbelievably, the age of the Rajapaksas is over, bringing with it the promise of dramatic change. But the ghosts of the past still remain, as we uncover new details of the alleged attempt by Mahinda Rajapaksa to stage a midnight coup. But in exchange for a peaceful transition, did new President Maithripala Sirisena strike a secret deal with Rajapaska? How will Sirisena balance pressures from Sri Lanka's most powerful politicians who backed his victory, as well as ultranationalists from both sides? This week, exclusive interviews with the men who matter in the new Sri Lanka, which bring out the complex, exciting nature of the mandate.

There is an uneasy calm over insurgency-hit Manipur, which has completed a year - 2014 - with the lowest number of killings in clashes between security forces and militant groups. But the peace may be deceptive; it comes after a Supreme Court committee indicted armed forces for a series of fake encounters, leading the forces to disengage. But an informal ceasefire has not led to any movement towards justice for the victims of fake encounters. In fact, our investigation finds continuing attempts to bury the truth and obstruct justice at every level, often using the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. As long as there is no justice, peace in Manipur may be an illusion.

From groundbreaking reports from the war in Gaza, to the inner workings of the Modi campaign, to the myth of 'Love Jihad', we bring you the highlights of Truth vs Hype in an eventful year gone by.

In the week that it was decided to confer the Bharat Ratna on Atal Bihari Vajpayee, we take a closer look at one of India's most celebrated and fascinating political figures. Was Vajpayee, as some described him, a 'mask' to legitimise the excesses of his ideological parivaar or was he a moderating influence on Hindutva politics, earning the sobriquet of Nehru of the Right?

Political temperatures are on the rise, with Hindutva outfits announcing plan after plan to carry out religious conversions, or as they call it, 'homecoming'. This week, we ask - are these genuine 'conversions' of minorities wanting to join the Hindu fold, or staged attempts to garner publicity? Is this simply the handiwork of fringe groups, or does this have the backing of the BJP and the RSS? And are these 'conversion' events a valid reaction to claims of rampant conversions by minorities - especially Christian groups - or is the spectre of Hinduism under threat a dangerous red herring?

The rape of a young woman in a cab run by Uber has exposed the safety claims made by the new generation of taxi companies, raising the spectre of lack of safety for women in public transport. But while the government has been quick to ban Uber and taxi services like it, has it also failed to deliver on the promises made after December 16, of making Indian cities safe for women?

This week India is expected to tell a UN climate change conference in Peru the steps it has taken to ensure a greener future. But we investigate whether,in the guise of efficiency, the new government is systematically diluting environmental safeguards. And in doing so, is it perpetuating a process that had already begun in the last days of the UPA.

The proposed amendments to the Land Acquisition Act to make them less stringent have been justified citing shortage of land for industry. But a detailed investigation found that at least 45 % of land under the industrial development corporations of 5 major Indian states lies vacant. This week on Truth vs Hype- are the tensions around land acquisition the result of government's mismanagement of its resources?

The shadow of violence hung over West Bengal this week. In Burdwan, an hour north of Kolkata, an accidental explosion may have revealed the presence of Bangladesh-based Islamist militant groups, using Bengal to carry out strikes here or across the border. The shock revelation comes at the same time as a sharp escalation in clashes between the ruling Trinamool Congress and its newest political foe in the state in Birbhum. Both episodes are not unconnected, linked by deep misgivings about the Trinamool Congress' pandering to religious extremism and fostering a culture of political violence that poses not just a security risk, but also a risk to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's political future.

The government's ambitious plan to build 11 crore toilets in 5 years as means of ending open defecation is a worthy idea. But the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' is closely modelled on earlier schemes, which have been largely focused on constructing toilets, not in enabling a shift of mindsets. As a result, millions of toilets lie unused, many falling into disrepair. Will the new regime learn from the mistakes of the past? Or could crores of rupees literally be flushed down the drain?